On the road, Virginia to California

Old Sep 18th, 2005, 08:26 AM
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Faintly fascinating facts I have learned:
Memphis is birthplace of rock and roll
Memphis is home of the blues
Memphis is the world capital of pork bbq
Oklahoma City is the horse capital of the world. (I saw the capitol building there but did not see the stables for the congress).
Oklahoma is the 8th windiest state in the USA.


They are more than faintly fascinating to me. My friend who lives in OK probably agrees with that fact about windy
So did you have bbq while listening to blues and rock and roll from horseback?

We took our coffee maker along for the Drive also. It really makes a difference in getting up and out of the room! Because no one really makes your first cup of coffee as well as you do

Can't wait to hear the next destination ~
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Old Sep 18th, 2005, 03:20 PM
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Very entertaining and informative
report. I apprciate detailed step by step reports bcecause they often make
the difference between ok and great experiences.
Thanks for posting.
Looking forward to the next installment.
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Old Sep 18th, 2005, 03:48 PM
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Bill, after this trip please listen to Weird Al's song "Albequerque." It is my son's all time favorite song and we sing it on every airline flight we take together.

Got my tray table up and my seatback in the full upright position :-"
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Old Sep 18th, 2005, 03:52 PM
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BTW- sorry to deflect from your road trip, but did you know that if you fly ANA to Narita they give you a FREE cell phone to use in Japan; no charge for incoming calls and 90 yen for calls to the U.S.! I am so psyched about this. Someone at japan-guide.com led me to the part of ANA's site on this.
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Old Sep 19th, 2005, 05:18 AM
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90 yen per min.
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Old Sep 19th, 2005, 08:09 AM
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I will have to listen for the Albuquerque song today as I leave (won't be surprised to hear it as I heard a Three Dog Night song twice in 12 hours in OK City, the one that goes "Well I never been to heaven but I been to Oklahoma. They ..." I had read about the cell phone, yes.

Speaking of Three Dog Night, the New Mexico State Fair was wonderful. Spent 20 hours there yesterday. Lots of cowboys and cowgirls everywhere. Was entertained by Navajo singers and dancers, a mariachi band and girls dancing in fancy fancy dresses, and Africn American drummers.

The fair grounds have lots of trees so it is pretty and mostly shady.

At the OK fair I saw long lines at booths selling "Indian Tacos" and I thought that was a bit odd. Wondered if maybe they had curry sauce on them instead of taco sauce, and maybe they were vegetarian (couldn't have beef in an Indian taco, now could you?). I thought that the homies were being quite international and adventurous by have Indian tacos. Didn't know what was in them but I did't want to find out.

Then I got to the Indian encleve at the NM fair and saw a stand selling NAVAJO TACOS! They weren't from Bombay, they were from right there in Albuquerque.

Saw some minor league horse racing at Alb (code for Albuqerque Downs). Reminded me of Charles Town races in WV, except for the aformentioned cowpersons. In particular this was a place for Mexican cowboys to hang out. All the cowpersons were in their Sunday best blue jeans, beautiful boots. I think that the hat style predominantly was with the sides curled up

The rodeo was fabulous. First there was a parade of cowpersons with US flags and flags of the sponsors (who got mentioned by the announcer throughout his announcing of the rodeo). Then the lights were turned off and the announcer said a prayer. The national anthem was sumg by a group of ladies who added a few notes the song that are not in the original.

There was bucking bronco riding and I actually got to yell "ride em cowboy" and really mean it. Calf wrangling where the cowboy jumps off the horse, grabs the calf's horns and wrasssles him to the ground.

There was barrel racing by some cowboys but more entertaining were the cowgirls racing. They were, in fact, girls, the youngest being a third grader and the oldest being a home-schooled senior.

The calf roping consisted of two cowboys chasing a calf. One roped the head and the other roped the hind legs.

The last event was bull riding! There were some monster bulls with names like TNT and Freakazoid.

There was a spotlight on a saluting soldier and the announcer read a speech honoring our military service persons and a horseman brought out a grey with a US flag on its back. An honoring our veterans presentation.

The Three Dog Night concert after the rodeo was good. The hall was not built for a rock concert. Would have MUCH preferred Alice Cooper who was there the previous weekend.

Will have to change radio stations when I leave since the Buzzard station here leans, heavily, towards Black Sabbath and probably no Wierd Al.

The Petrified Forest and Meteor Crater are on the program today with a stop in Flagstaff, unless I stop in Gallup for the night.
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Old Sep 19th, 2005, 08:26 AM
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THe lyrics are at:
http://www/fodors.com/forums/postrep...0&tid=34675515

Those are some very funny lyrics.

I don't think they play it on the radio as it's 11 min. long though...
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Old Sep 19th, 2005, 08:30 AM
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well that is really weird, somehow fodors post reply showed up in the line I typed, and what is there is not at all what I typed.

trying again:

http://www.com-www.com/weirdal/albuquerque.html
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Old Sep 19th, 2005, 11:36 AM
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Sounds like you had a great time in Albuquerque! Did you try a Navajo taco? They're worth the carbs, let me tell you.

Lee Ann
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Old Sep 19th, 2005, 05:34 PM
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I stopped at the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Monument today. It is very beautiful. Stopping at the info center was definitely worthwhile. The attendant will point out the stops that you should make based on the amount of time that you have. She selected about a half dozen stops for me when I told her that I had 90 minutes. I added a couple of stops and it took 100 minutes.

I messed up and took too much time deciding where to go. So I missed Meteor Crater today. Worse is that I will have to backtrack 30 miles to go see it in the morning. Real shame because I am at the Residence Inn in Flagstaff. It is right at hwy 89 that I will take to get to the Grand Canyon tomorrow. This is exit 201, the first Flagstaff exit and the RI is nice. Has a kitchen with a full size coffee maker with filters.

Tomorrow night is at the Comfort Inn at Grand Canyon and the Yavapai Lodge the next night.

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Old Sep 19th, 2005, 05:36 PM
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Yes, I did try the Navajo taco and enjoyed it.

Heard "Old MacDonald's Farm" on Zuni radio today, sung in Zuni style.
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Old Sep 19th, 2005, 06:59 PM
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>>Heard "Old MacDonald's Farm" on Zuni radio today, sung in Zuni style.<<

You pick up some interesting stations when you're out near Gallup.

Unless you're really set on visiting Meteor Crater, I don't think it's worth backtracking to see. It's pretty expensive and basically just a big hole in the ground. If you go, be sure to tell us what you think!

Lee Ann
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Old Sep 20th, 2005, 07:34 AM
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Free internet in the room and a computer in the lobby. Feels good being on a full-size keyboard.

As I was getting off of the interstate yesterday, the I40 West sign said, for the first time, "Los Angeles". So I am getting close.

If you like watching freight trains then you should spend some time in Flagstaff.

This is the earliest start of the whole trip. I will backtrack.
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Old Sep 20th, 2005, 07:37 AM
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There is a wonderful smell of pine trees outside. Going to be a great day.
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Old Sep 20th, 2005, 10:27 AM
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Meteor Crater was great. I am glad I backtracked. It's $12 for adults and $6 for kids 6 or 7 and up, $11 for seniors. Wheelchair accessible including a w/c accessible telescope for looking into the crater. Spent about 80 minutes there. Bought a trilobyte fossil and another creature fossil from 500 million years ago. The museum is decent and there is a 10 minute video. Good souvenir shop. Get your gas after you visit the crater as you get a coupon good for 4 cents per gallon at the station at the MC RV park.
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Old Sep 20th, 2005, 11:08 AM
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I love Meteor Crater too. Isn't it interesting how different tastes and interests can be?!?!
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Old Sep 20th, 2005, 10:12 PM
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I visited Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Wapatki NM. They are on a loop road off of US 89 north of Flagstaff. Went south to north, the best way I think because the visitors center for each NM are at the beginning of the drive going that way.

Lava flows, pine and juniper in Sunset. It is beautful. Out towards Wapatki is some lovely landscapes, absolutely gorgeous because everything is colorful. A variety of green, gold and yellow, and beige. There are Anasazi ruins in Wapatki.

I got a one year national parks pass at the first NM today for $50. They will give you credit for any NP fees you've paid in the last two weeks. They want the admission receipt to give you credit. A receipt from the gift shop that is IN the painted desert will get you sympathy but no credit.

I entered the Grand Canyon National Park at the east gate, so Desert View was my first stop. The G.C. is of course AWESOME. There was rain today which means clouds but it also meant a rainbow!

Dined at the steakhouse in Tusayan and staying at the Quality Inn. The front desk guy zipped through the description of things (where the room is, parking, etc) that it was rather rude. But otherwise the locals are friendly. This room is wired for free internet access. More G.C. tomorrow.
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Old Sep 21st, 2005, 07:50 AM
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Did I mention that the Wapatki and Sunset Volcano NMs had some gorgeous views? I wanted to point those places out again because I thought that I would pass them by and am very happy that I didn't.

At G.C. yesterday, I drove from Desert View to Yavapai view, skipping only Yavi and Mather. Took about 3.5 hours for the drive and spent another hour or so at Yavapai.

The night before you visit the G.C. you should recharge your camera batteries otherwise you may end up paying $8.50 for four AAs at Desert View.

Lots of people on the west side of the canyon and in Tusayan.
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Old Sep 21st, 2005, 01:10 PM
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I'm glad you liked Meteor Crater. As I think about it, I remember we enjoyed it the first time we went there; the second time (a few years later when the kids were bigger) we weren't as impressed for some reason.

Lee Ann
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Old Sep 22nd, 2005, 10:10 AM
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Yesterday, I drove to Mather Point and visited briefly because I saw that the sun was shining in the canyon to the west.

Drove down to El Tovar and found a spot. Took in the canyon views and bought a few souvenirs and gifts. Was able to check in at the Yavapai Lodge around noon (normal checkin is 4PM). Took the bus up to visitor center and then the green bus out to Yavi Point and the trailhead stop.

It was raining when I got back to the visitors center. Had planned to go to Mather Point but just got out of the rain and onto a blue bus. Transferred to the red line to go out the Hermits Rest route. Missed the Trailview stop because of rain, but made all the others except for Hopi Point. Got to Hopi Point around 6PM and enjoyed sunset there.

Dinner at El Tovar was fabulous. It is a great lodge and a fine restaraunt.

Walked Mather Point to Yavapai Point this morning then bus to red line and made the Trailview stop. Then one last long stop at Hopi Point.

Am at Yavapai lodge now, internet is $5 for 20 minutes. Heading to Hoover Dam and Las Vegas now.
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